Apparatus for generating and carbureting hydrogen gas



(No Model.) Y

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APPARATUS POR GENERATING AND ARBURETING HYDROGEN GAS.' N0.`.298,462,. Patented May 13, '1884.

: 1 :gill/l? Il N. PETERS, mulmgnpmr. wnshiugxan, U. C.

l Sintes 'Ntra LEROY S. GROVES,l OF AFTON, IOVA, ASSIGNOR TO JOSHUA F. BISHOP, OF SAME PLACE, AND J. H. PATT, OF ORESTON, IOVA.

APPARATUS FOR GENERA'I'ING AND CARIBURETING HYDROGEN GAS.A

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,462, dated May 13, 1884. Application filed June 23,1883. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, LEROY S. GRovEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Afton, in the county of Union and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Carbureting Hydrogen Gas; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable 1o others skilled in the art to which it appertafins to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

Figure l ot' the drawings is a vertical sectional view ot' my device. Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Figs. 3 and4 are detail views.

This invention has relation to apparatus for generating and ca-rbureting hydrogen gas; and 2o it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of devices, all as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, theletter A designates the outer case or vessel, in which the acidulated water is held. In the bottom of the vessel A is located a convoluted or coiled pipe, B, which is provided with inlet perforations a, and terminates in a spout, b, which extends through the wall of the case.

3o This spout is providedwith a faucet, and serves to enable theinert copperas-water to be drawn off from time to time.

C represents an inner incasement of wood, having an open bottom, in which marginal ways c are formed, which may be lclosed,when desirable, by means of an annular gate, D, surrounding the lower portion of the incasement or jacket O, and having upwardlyextending handles d, whereby it may be raised 1ro or lowered, according to requirement. Vhen the inert copperas-water is to be drawn off, the annular gate is shut down, in order to prevent, as far as possible, the waste of the acidulated water in the vessel A,which, being lighter than the copperas-water, does not intermix therewith to any important degree. Vithin the upper portion of the case Gis the chamber E, in which is generated hydrogen gas from iron filings or clippings of zinc placed 5o in a basket, F, in the lower part of said chamber. Within the upper portion of the cham`1 ber E is the gasoline-chamber G, which is sur rounded by a wooden jacket or skirt, H, within the hydrogen-gas chamber E. Below the gasoline-chamber G is an expanded dischargechamber, e, having a perforated base, and the i tube f,communicating with said chamber, eX- tends upward for the introduction of pure water to cleanse the iilings or clippings in the basket F below the perforated discharge- 6o chamber e. The lower end of the tube f is arranged within a cup, g, in the chamber e, which is designed to remain full of water, and when the check-valve 71I in the tubef is closed that portion of the tube between the oheckvalve and the cup is kept full of water. In this manner the weight of a column of water is always provided to facilitate the introduction of a supply of water against a heavy pressure of gas from the hydrogen-chamber.

K represents a tube, which carries the hydrogen gas over from the hydrogen-chamber E to the gasoline-chamber G. The discharging portion 7s of this tube is horizontally arranged at the bottom of the gasoline-chamber, andis perforated with a number of small apertures, whereby the gas is emitted in a subdivided manner instead of by single bubbles through the gasoline. The object of this construction is to obviate unsteadiness in the flame at the burners.

L represents a tube, one end of which communicates with the hydrogen-chamber, While its other end opens int-o the top of the gasoline-chamber. This tube is provided with a check-valve at Z. Usually one branch, m, of this tube is made to serve for the supply-tube of the gasolinechamber, and is provided with a check-valve at n. The object ofthe tube L is to set up a communication between the hydrogen-chamber and the gasoline-chamber. After shutting off the gas at the burners, the high temperature in the hydrogen-chamber continues, owing to the action of the chemi cals therein, and the gasoline-vapor is expanded thereby, so that there is danger of bursting the gasoline-tank; but byopening the check-valve Z in the tube L the gasoline-vapor is allowed to pass over, so that the pressure is equalized. roo

N represents the main vent-pipefor the carbnreted or illuminating gas, having such f extension Z may be attached small tubing to convey the gasoline from the gasoline-chainber into the reservoir of a gasoline-stove when needed for use in cooking or for other purposes. This is accomplished when the apparatus is not in ,use for illuminating purposes by changing the direction of pressure on the gasoline in the chamber G, opening the checkvalve Z in the pipe L, so that the pressure of the hydrogen is upon the top of the gasoline, and at the saine timeclosing the check-valve c in the pipe K.

The object of the inner jacket or skirt, H, of wood, which surrounds the gasoline-chamber,

is to utilize the heat set up by the action of' the chemicals below, and to counteract the condensing tendency of the acidulated water when cold. so that the gasoline is raised to the proper temperature for vaporization.4 The larger Wooden incaselnent, C, outside of the hyd rogen-chamber, is designed to assist in this effect.

Then it is desired to produce illuminatinggas, the vent Z is opened, so that the acidulated Water is allowed to rise in theliydrogenchainberE until it reaches the filings or clippings in the basket F. Then the vent is closed, and the chemical action sets free the hydrogen gas, which passes over into the gasolinechamber, and is enriched by taking up the gasoline-vapor, as hereinbefore stated. W'hen the escape of the hydrogen gasis stopped--as, for

instance, when it is shut oif at the burnersthe hydrogen-chamber, becoming filled with the gas, causes a descent of the acidulated water therein until it falls below the basket F, and being no longer in contact with the filings or clippings therein,the chemical action ceases. The apparatus is therefore selfregulating.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. The inner wooden jacket or skirt surrounding the gasoline-tank within the upper portion of the hydrogen-chamber, substantially as specified.

2. The open-bottom wooden casing C, having marginal ways or notchesin its lower edge, and surrounding the hydrogen-chamber, substantially as specified.

3. The adjustable annular gate extending around the incasement C, and adapted to close the ways or notches thereof, substantially as specified.

d. The combinatiomwith the incasement C and its adjustable annular gate, of a coiled or convoluted and perforated waste-pipe, substanti-ally as speciied.

5. The combination, with the basket FJor holding the clippings of' iron, of the cleansing device, consisting ofthe tube f, provided near its upper end with the check-valve h, and the expanded discharge-chamber c, having a perforated base and cup g, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereo` Iaitix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEROY S. GROVES.

Witnesses:

I. N CHERRY, y CHAs. BoTHE. 

